Audio distributor

ABSTRACT

An audio distributor includes a rotor disc rotatably supported by a stationary base. The rotor disc includes a shaft extending within the stationary housing and supporting at least one light emitting diode. Each light emitting diode supported on the shaft is positioned to operably interact with a plurality of photo resistors. Each photo resistor is connected between an input port and an output port for controlling the transfer of the audio signal from the input port to one of a plurality of output ports based on the level of light sensed by the corresponding plurality of photo resistors connected to the circuit for operably receiving the light emitted from the diode supported by the shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/322,488 which was filed on Sep. 14, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to an audio distributor for connecting an input sound signal port to a plurality of output sound signal ports through the operable interaction a plurality of photo resistors with at least one light emitting diode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Current audio distribution systems require complex, expensive production technologies. In many instances, the audio distribution systems include electronic interfaces and computer controls to allow performers to direct sound signals to the desired locations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The audio distributor according to the present invention permits musicians, disc jockeys, theatrical sound technicians, and multimedia artists to easily direct a sound signal to any one or more of a plurality of peripherally located speakers in order to create an effect of movement around the audience/space. The audio distributor accepts at least one low-power sound input and directs the input to at least one plurality of output channels in accordance with the manual rotation of the controller disc by the performer/technician/artist. Motorization and computer control of this motor would also be possible, but not required.

[0005] The audio distributor does not use any chips, nor require expensive production technologies, so that cost to produce the audio distributor may be kept low. Performer interaction with the device is very direct, since no computers or electronic interfaces are required. Sound flow from one speaker to another is smooth, in contrast to reed relays or multiplexer chip solutions.

[0006] Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a top view of an LED rotor disc according to the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a side cutaway view of the LED rotor disc of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a side cutaway view of a base according to the present invention; and

[0011]FIG. 4 is a top view of the base and internal components according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the audio distributor 10 according to the present invention includes a rotatable disc 12 supported by a stationary base 14 (seen in FIGS. 3 and 4). The rotor disc 12 supports an on-off switch 16 and a directional indicator light emitting diode (LED) 18. The directional LED 18 indicates the current output direction of a light emitting diode 20 supported by the central shaft 22. The rotor disc 12 can enclose batteries 24, by way of example and not limitation, such as two AAA cell batteries. Appropriately sized resistors 26, 28 can be positioned between the batteries and the LED 16, 18 as required. By way of example and not limitation, the resistors 26, 28 can be 3900 resistors. A higher value resistor may be necessary for the LED 20 on the rotating shaft 22, since the light may be too bright otherwise. The rotor disc housing 12 can include a shaped portion, such as a dimple or depression 30 to facilitate turning the disc 12 by the operator.

[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the stationary base 14 supports a bearing 32 for receiving the shaft 22 allowing rotation of the rotor disc 12 with respect to the stationary base 14. A plurality of photo resistors 34, 36, 38, 40 are supported within the base 14 in an appropriate position to be operably actuated in response to receiving light from the rotatable light emitting diode 20 as the disc 12 and connected shaft 22 are rotated with respect to the stationary base 14. Preferably, the plurality of photo resistors 34, 36, 38, 40 are supported within an EMF-resistant housing 42 within the base 14. Each photo resistor is operably connected to an output port 44, 46, 48, 50. An input port 52 is provided for operably connecting to each of the photo resistors 34, 36, 38, 40. While the invention is illustrated with four photo resistors, it should be recognized that the present invention can be practiced with two or more photo resistors without departing from the present invention. In operation, the rotor disc 12 is positioned with the shaft 22 rotatably supported through bearing 32 by the stationary base 14. The disc 12 is rotatable in either direction by an operator in order to direct the corresponding sound being fed through the input port 52 to one or more of the output ports 44, 46, 48, 50. It should also be recognized that the shaft 22 can be elongated to include support through additional stationary bases for separate sound channel inputs to be directed independently to different photo resistor outputs with additional light emitting diodes directed in either the same direction as the light emitting diode 18, or in different directions offset at angularly spaced positions with respect to the directional LED 18. By way of example and not limitation, a two sound channel system could have directional LED's spaced 180° with respect to one another. Alternatively, a three sound channel audio distributor could include directional LED's spaced 120° with respect to one another. It should be recognized that the number of sound channels can be modified as desired for the particular application, and the angular orientation of the directional LED's can be located at any angular orientation with respect to one another as desired.

[0014] The audio distributor uses a very simple principle to effect the assignment of an audio signal to any one of a plurality of sound channels, by way of example and not limitation such as four or more sound channels. Four photo resistors, which exhibit a very high resistive value in the dark, each receive the audio input signal. The other lead of each photo resistor is connected to one of the four output channels. The photo resistors are arranged in a light-tight circular container, facing in toward the center of the circle. A round shaft occupies the center of the circular space; at one side of the shaft, there is a light-emitting diode (LED) pointing out toward the perimeter of the circular space, towards the photo resistors. The shaft with the LED is connected to a disc on top of the circular housing so that the user can spin the disc/shaft around, shining the LED on, or between, any of the photo resistors.

[0015] The disc/shaft has free rotation because the batteries, switch, and wiring for the LED are recessed into the disc. The circular housing, which includes the bottom of the device, remains stationary during use, since the housing supports a number of sound cables (XLR connectors) attached to the housing.

[0016] The audio distributor functions as follows: when dark, the photo resistors exhibit sufficiently high resistance to the typically weak input signal from a microphone, guitar, preamplifier, or computer, so that the further conductance of the signal through the photo resistor and out to the power amplifier is effectively blocked.

[0017] When some of the light from the LED reaches the photo resistor, the resistance drops proportional to the intensity of the light falling on the photo resistor, thus allowing relatively more or less of the audio signal to pass on to the amplification stage and to the speakers. A particular benefit of this method of audio distribution is that the transitions from one speaker to another are smooth, owing to the gradual rise and fall of the amount of light reaching the photo resistors. The response time of the photo resistors is quite short, so that the device allows good responsiveness to the actions of the performer.

[0018] The elegant simplicity of the technology of the audio distributor allows for very straightforward, responsive audio distribution effects at lower cost and with less complexity than has been the case with reed relays, multiplexing chips, or other methods.

[0019] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An audio distributor comprising: a housing have a stationary portion and a rotatable portion supported by the stationary portion; and light activated means for selectively connecting at least one audio input with at least one audio output in response to an angular position of the rotatable portion of the housing with respect to the stationary portion of the housing.
 2. The audio distributor of claim 1 wherein the light activated means further comprises: at least one light emitting diode; and a plurality of photo resistors associated with each audio input, each photo resistor connected to at least one of the plurality of audio outputs, each photo resistor connecting the corresponding audio output with the corresponding audio input in response to receiving emitted light from the at least one light emitting diode.
 3. The audio distributor of claim 2 further comprising: the plurality of photo resistors supported by the stationary portion of the housing.
 4. The audio distributor of claim 2 further comprising: the light emitting diode supported for rotational movement relative to the stationary portion of the housing.
 5. The audio distributor of claim 4 further comprising: the light emitting diode supported by the rotatable portion of the housing.
 6. The audio distributor of claim 5 further comprising: a battery supported within the rotatable housing for energizing the light emitting diode.
 7. The audio distributor of claim 6 further comprising: a switch supported on the rotatable housing for turning the light emitting diode on and off.
 8. The audio distributor of claim 6 further comprising: a second light emitting diode supported by the rotatable portion of the housing and aligned angularly with respect to the other light emitting diode.
 9. The audio distributor of claim 1 further comprising: a shaped contour formed on the rotatable portion of the housing for facilitating rotation of the rotatable portion of the housing with respect to the stationary portion of the housing by an operator.
 10. The audio distributor of claim 1 further comprising: a switch supported on the rotatable portion of the housing for turning the light activated means on and off.
 11. An audio distributor comprising: a stationary base having at least one audio input and a plurality of audio outputs associated with each audio input; a disc rotatably supported by the base; and light activated means for selectively connecting at least one audio input with at least one audio output in response to an angular position of the disc with respect to the stationary base.
 12. The audio distributor of claim 11 wherein the light activated means further comprises: at least one light emitting diode; and a plurality of photo resistors associated with each audio input, each photo resistor connected to at least one of the plurality of audio outputs, each photo resistor connecting the corresponding audio output with the corresponding audio input in response to receiving emitted light from the at least one light emitting diode.
 13. The audio distributor of claim 12 further comprising: the plurality of photo resistors supported by the stationary base.
 14. The audio distributor of claim 12 further comprising: the light emitting diode supported for rotational movement relative to the stationary base.
 15. The audio distributor of claim 14 further comprising: the light emitting diode supported by the disc.
 16. The audio distributor of claim 15 further comprising: a battery supported within the disc for energizing the light emitting diode.
 17. The audio distributor of claim 16 further comprising: a second light emitting diode supported by the disc and aligned angularly in a predetermined orientation with respect to the other light emitting diode.
 18. The audio distributor of claim 11 further comprising: a shaped contour formed on the disc for facilitating rotation of the disc with respect to the stationary base by an operator.
 19. The audio distributor of claim 11 further comprising: a switch supported on the disc for turning the light activated means on and off.
 20. An audio distributor comprising: a stationary base having at least one audio input and a plurality of audio outputs associated with each audio input; a disc rotatably supported by the base, the disc supporting at least one light emitting diode for rotational movement relative to the base; and a plurality of photo resistors associated with each audio input, each photo resistor connected to at least one of the plurality of audio outputs, each photo resistor connecting the corresponding audio output with the corresponding audio input in response to receiving emitted light from the at least one light emitting diode. 